Plein Aire Oil Painting with Howard Rose

June 29, 2014

“Howard was patient, encouraging, funny, insightful, very careful to speak with everyone equally. He Obviously loves teaching! So many excellent artists are poor teachers. Howard is both an artist and a teacher, and really wants his pupils to succeed and learn. Thank you, Kim and Mark, for your hospitality, generosity, fun, and laugher. I hope I’ll be back soon!” – Marg Stalker

With an endorsement like that you know that this was a fun class and a fun week with Howard Rose.

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Gabby was one of the student’s pup who enjoyed the outdoor painting, too!

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Taking a break for coffee and cookies! We now have 16 oz coffee cups for more of the pick me up that you need in the afternoon, cookies help, too.

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Howard looking serious, which as a rare photo opportunity! He is usually always smiling and having a great time teaching.

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Margaret Evans Unleashes Her Pastels

June 22, 2014

Margaret Evans, the delightful and talented Scottish artist, was here once again teaching a 5-day workshop for pastelists. The focus of the class was to “unleash your pastels” and discover their versatility when used on their own or with other media.

Here are Margaret’s pastels unleashed!

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. . . and here is her demo started on the first day.

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She finished the painting with more detail later on in the week and we’ll post a picture as soon as we get it framed!

Margaret loves to paint outside and that was the plan for this workshop, but after the first day, I think the weather tried too hard to make Margaret feel at home with damp, rainy weather! The valiant group did make an attempt to paint out by the Hudson River, hoping that the clouds would clear, as they had on the first day but after spending the morning in the large covered bandstand in the Athens riverside park, the group returned to the studio.

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Margaret kept everyone busy working from photo reference or florals (our peonies always seem to bloom in profusion and then are followed by torrents of rain that flatten them to the ground, so we had dozens of vases filled). During breaks in the rain, some students immediately found inspiration around the inn for a bit of plein air painting.

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It was a great week. “Exceeded all expectations” was a comment by one student that was echoed by all.

Margaret will return again in August of 2016! Don’t miss it.

Bold and Loose with Eric Wiegardt

June 15, 2014

Eric Wiegardt, the award winning watercolorist from Washington, just taught a 5-day workshop on being bold and loose with watercolor! The weather was beautiful and there were plenty of Spring flowers putting on a show all around the inn.

Eric did at least one demo each day. Here he is doing a painting of the white flowering viburnum in the white garden on our side lawn.

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On another day, Eric painted a scene of the side view of the carriage house. These photos were taken by Kathy Kernan, a student in the class. (Thanks, Kathy!)

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The group also went to our favorite local farm to paint. This is Eric’s demo painting from that day.

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On the final day the class to a short trip out to the Riverside Park in Coxsackie for a day by the Hudson River.

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Everyone enjoyed Eric’s easy going style and great sense of humor. It’s easy to see why he is a popular teacher. Eric will be back with us again in 2016!

Interview with Oil Painter, Howard Rose

June 15, 2014

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How long have you been teaching and what got you started?

I have been teaching for over 15 years. I got started when I was in a painting class and everyone kept on asking me questions on how to improve their paintings.
I always felt good if I helped some student get one step better, bring their painting up a notch, and solve a difficult stumbling block for them.

What is your favorite part about teaching?

I always see how important and serious most painters and students are about their paintings. I see each student putting their heart and soul into each of their paintings and if I can guide them into a better and more successful painting, they truly appreciate it as well as I do.

What are the best reasons for taking a workshop from you?

Over the past 15 years, of teaching and critiquing art shows, I always say I have the ability of taking their painting UP a Notch. I never let a student start a painting without a good design. They can work for weeks on a painting but without a good design, It will never be a good and successful painting. I have designed very logical steps to start and complete an oil Painting. My mantra for my all my students is… Slow and Accurate. Be accurate with each step along the way…. color application, design, perspective, calligraphy etc. Doing it slow and accurate will assure the student in creating a successful painting.Image 6

What are you working on in your own art?

I have joined a web site called Daily Paintworks. I create a small painting every other day and post in onto this site…. working on 6 x 6 and 6 x 8 inch paintings is very exciting.
All of the knowledge that I have learned has to be applied for a large as well very small painting. Its exciting to create a good painting in a couple of hours and see in on an auction where potential buyers will buy my painting.

Where is your art currently exhibited?

I have a gallery in Southampton ( Chrysalis Gallery) and I have a yearly show every June or July… I will have one of these on July 4th. I also exhibit my work at a gallery in Weston , Ct and a beautiful Gallery in Manhasset , Long Island called Tripani art gallery.Image 5

What hints would you give for getting gallery representation:

An artist has to have a theme in their work… Landscapes, or seascapes, still lifes, floral etc. You can of course vary it, but you should be known for a particular theme.
You should be proud of your work. Know that it is good art and know that you can produce paintings on a regular basis. If you know that you need to be in a gallery, find a gallery that you love. walk in , look around and start getting acqainted with the sales people. Ask questions and drop a hint that you paint and if you wanted to show your work to someone in the gallery, how would I go about it?

Do you set your work in any online gallery?

Daily Paintworks… I do small paintings and create about 4 a week. The paintings go on auction.

What is your favorite art quote?

My Mantra for my students is To create a successful painting you must think… SLOW AND ACCURATE! Take each step and make it accurate, Perspective, design, accurate color, thought out harmony and rich paint application.

Describe your studio:

I have a wonderful studio in Syosset, Long Island New York, above the American Legon center. I have room for 12 easels where I run classes and do my painting. Its very bright, and quiet.

Name five of your “can’t” do without tools/products.

  • clean and new brushes
  • Kings blue from williams burg
  • Gessoboard panels
  • Bounty towels
  • good lighting

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More Recent Instructor Interviews:

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Interview with Esterita Austin

June 6, 2014

Austin estertiat lg2014cEstertia Austin, the creator of Misty Fuse and Transdoodle Transfer Paper, has taught workshops for us for quite a number of years. We always look forward to her workshops because of her approachable teaching style and her grand sense of fun!

She is teaching her portraits workshop this August, which is always a fun class. I especially enjoy seeing the amazement on the faces of the students when they see how Teri’s techniques make it easy to create dynamic portraits from their photos.

Here are Teri’s answers to our interview questions:

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How long have you been teaching and what got you started teaching?

I started teaching in 1980 when my first child was born. I had been a graphic artist which tens to be messy with using the inks and paints. I needed a clean creative outlet with kids around and found that quilting was easy to put down when I needed to run after a toddler.

What is your favorite part about teaching?

I had been a high school art teacher before I started teaching quilting. I just love it when I see (metaphorically) the light bulb go off when someone “gets it” and sees how to use value to create a dynamic piece. I get excited when students realize that they have undiscovered talent, now discovered.

What would you tell your prospective students are three best reasons for taking a workshop?

  • To let go of trying to control the outcome of the day and their piece.
  • To have the space and permission to go outside of their expressive boundaries.
  • To add to and expand the tools in their creative tool box both with new materials and ideas.

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What are you currently working on in your own art?

I’ve been working in two different directions. One very planned and thought out in the form of portraits in hand dyed cottons/ and the other very loose and expressive with layered sheer mono prints, experimenting with all different mediums. I find going back and forth between the two expressions satisfies both sides of my personality.

Where is your art currently being exhibited?

I just had an exhibit in Hampton Virginia and have exhibits in a few universities around the country the past few months.IMG 1665 2

What is your favorite art quote?

Light reveals form.

Describe your studio.

My studio is attached to my home. It’s 20 x 22″ white walls and oak floor. I teach classes as well as do my own work there. I have two work tables raised to waist high. One old oak desk and file cabinets. And of course cabinets and drawers for fabric storage.IMG 1641 1024 2

Name some of your “can’t” do without tools/products

  • black cotton fabric
  • Mistyfuse
  • Transdoodle transfer paper
  • parchment paper
  • hand dyed fabrics by Carlene Keller
  • 18 mm rotary cutter
  • every color of lumiere textile paints!

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More Recent Instructor Interviews:

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Elizabeth St Hilaire Nelson’s Paper Paintings

June 6, 2014

The wonderfully creative and inventive Elizabeth St Hilaire just taught a 3-day workshop to an eager and very happy crew. This is what one student had to say to Elizabeth:

Thank you again for a very special weekend. My hope for any art endeavor is to have my eyes opened allowing me to see things in a new way. You certainly helped me achieve that! When I think of collage, I think of putting paper elements on a page in a mindful way, but your technique of paper painting is so very different. And so eye opening. My brain has been percolating since the weekend and I hope to be able to clear the decks and experiment in the next few weeks.

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These are some shots of the workshop and around the inn that Elizabeth’s husband, Doug Nelson, took during the class. Doug is a professional photographer, as you can tell by these amazing photos.

Elizabeth is one of the elite bloggers for the Growing Bolder website and she wrote a lovely piece about her workshop with us.

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There was heavy lobbying from the students at the end of class to bring Elizabeth back for another workshop and I’m happy to report that Elizabeth will be returning in 2016, September 25 – October 1, for a 5-day workshop!